The Maid's Contract Marriage (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 201
The debutante ball and the knighting ceremony for the knights who distinguished themselves in the war were just a week away.
Since Arthur was set to receive a title and the Marquis’s heir designation ceremony would also be held simultaneously, Julius’s townhouse had become bustling with activity.
A subtly excited atmosphere spread among the maids.
Many of the maids had been seeing knights in amiable relationships, so each was preparing congratulatory gifts for their respective lovers or dating partners.
Matilda Julius even summoned merchants directly to the mansion, giving the maids time specifically to prepare their own presents.
Most of the knights and soldiers returning from the long war hoped to build stable, harmonious families.
Known for their discretion, loyalty, and good wages, the maids of Julius enjoyed a reputation for being refined and trustworthy, making them desirable dating partners for the knights.
In most noble households, maids engaging in romance was considered scandalous and strictly frowned upon; Matilda Julius herself had always been a stern employer. Yet, for some reason, she not only refrained from showing displeasure but actually treated maids involved in such relationships even better.
Especially those maids dating Arthur’s knights—they were elevated in status within the household by being appointed as Christina’s companions in conversation and relieved of menial chores.
The days when maids awkwardly glanced at their mistress, uneasy upon hearing her say, “You should all try meeting knights like Marina,” were now a thing of the past.
It all began when Marina was unmistakably assigned her own private chamber and received favorable treatment close to Christina; seeing several maids achieve such upward mobility, others had by now begun actively pursuing both work and love.
Though some people, pretending to be concerned, tried to criticize the household discipline at Julius Mansion, Marchioness Julius countered by emphasizing that her long-lost daughter had once worked as a maid herself, portraying herself as a generous employer and kind mistress.
Since flattering stories about the Marquis’s household kept appearing in newspapers, enhancing Julius’s image, such actions were framed as remarkably open-minded and compassionate.
Naturally, this renewed attention highlighted just how coveted a position as a maid in “Julius” had become.
Seeing countless articles from The Imperial Gazette and other newspapers—filled with eloquent praise for Julius—pouring out as if copying each other, Matilda felt thoroughly satisfied.
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Inline Comments (7)
「You’d be wise to start by learning how to bow your head with humility.」
Ouchhhh okay Erica I get it…. the hate is very warranted
Marina’s eyes wavered.
Please connect the dots that Christina wants you dead
“In the end, I have no choice but to become the strict, disciplinarian young lad
I’m scared and shooketh I knew she was unhinged and they told us too but seeing it in action is scary
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
Saraluvsleads
I have a pit in my stomach reading this …. this could go so many ways